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Re: Vinland 105 Spoiler Thread

-"Living in this world is quite hard, and even so you wish for freedom?"

-The tern catches Thorfinn's attention and asks Halfdan whether he has it for a long time. Halfdan clarifies that he only got it recently from Sigurd, who thought it would make him happy catching it for him. He tells Thorfinn if he wants it he can have it, though he doesn't know how it will taste. Thorfinn clarifies he doesn't intend to eat it and if it's alright he's going to set it free. Halfdan warns him that the bird is too weak and won't be able to make it, and Thorfinn says "let's leave it up to the bird".

-When they take it out of the cage the bird ignores the food and flies away. Halfdan comments that Thorfinn is as impudent as his father. Thorfinn asks Halfdan whether he was friends with his father, and Halfdan replies don't joke around, he couldn't stand Thors, the same goes for him. Halfdan then gets down to business and asks Thorfinn about what they have back home to use as collateral. Thorfinn explains that he just came back home and can't use his mother or sister's possessions in the deal; all he has is his own life. Halfdan responds that the amount he's going to lend him will depend on the value of the collateral, and if he doesn't possess anything of value then they can't talk.

-Halfdan talks about the people that he had lent money to in the past and how man is foolish in the sense if he were given a choice between his life and pride, he will choose his pride in most cases. Those were the people he enjoyed stripping them from their possessions and pride the most. He then presents a condition: if he kissed his shoe(s), he will think about lending him money. To Halfdan's surprise, Thorfinn reacts "is that all, what foot will it be? the right? the left? or both?" And when Thorfinn gets down on his knees and about to do as he was told Halfdan draws back his foot and says he was joking.

-While playing chess with his father, Sigurd tells him they should think of a way to prevent Thorfinn from getting funds and get Leif back to their side. Halfdan tells him to let it go, there are people other than Leif who know the route to Vinland. Halfdan then recalls his talk with Thorfinn and comments both Thorfinn and his father are quite obnoxious.

-Instead of money, Halfdan gives Thorfinn 24 narwhale horns and invites him to the wedding. Leif comments that Halfdan is challenging Thorfinn and testing his resolve to go to Vinland: if they made money from the horns, he will fund them, though starting that kind of trade will be difficult.

Re: Vinland 105 Spoiler Thread

I wonder if Thorfinn's new task will take him back to England or Denmark or to Norway where his parents used to live. I also wonder if Yukimura is going to resolve the plot of when Floki hired Askeladd to kill Thors or if Canute will have some future role in the story.

Re: Vinland 105 Spoiler Thread

Looks like Thorfinn is in for a rude awakening when he becomes a merchant. Thorfinn has always been too honest.
People are gonna try and cheat him right and left. Plus he probably has to actually go out and travel too.
Which leads to the possibility of robbery.

I get the feeling that this whole merchant thing will be the next major arc
so it's gonna be a while before we even set sail for one pi...er Vinland.

Wonder if Thorfinn will be doing any business with Canute or his kingdom?
I'd be interested to see where that goes.

Re: Vinland 105 Spoiler Thread

I liked Halfdan bringing up pride. There is no monetary value in it, but most of us hold it more dear than just about anything. Would you lick someone's shoe in public for a million bucks? Sounds like it should be a good deal right? Assuming the shoe is devoid of deadly organisms or anything, it would probably taste horrible, but the task would be accomplished quickly and with little physical effort other than keeping yourself from gagging. However, could you bow down to another man and do such a humiliating task regardless of the reward? Most couldn't I suspect. I don't think I could either honestly. Thorfinn being able to do it without a second thought is impressive and also shocking, I would be just as shocked as Halfdan.

The tern scene shows the importance of freedom. Despite being fed delicious fresh fish regularly (probably) and being warm indoors, it would much rather fly and be free despite the much higher risk of death. Again this example could be carried to modern man. Being locked up in a large room in a mansion, with all the indoor gadgets you could think of, along with the very best food all the time, yet being relatively alone other than the servant who brings food/cleans room/etc vs being unemployed with no prospects, no assets/money, but free to do as you want. Most would take the latter. Without freedom nothing else matters.

I agree we are going to get a merchant arc likely, since narwhal horns can make you good money but are hard to sell. It should take at least a few chapters. The good news is we have Gudrid's wedding crash to look forward to, development of her, Halfdan, Sigurd, and maybe more showings of Ylfa and Helga as well. Before we say goodbye to all of them (besides Gudrid likely) for a very long time.